Fixing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) -
Senate Outlook Good to End Workplace Discrimination
Senators Harkin (D-IA) and Hatch (R-UT) introduced the Senate version of the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 on July 31 with an astounding 64 co-sponsors of both parties.
Why does the ADA need to be amended? Since the ADA was enacted in 1990, the courts have redefined disabilities so that many people with disabilities cannot take advantage of it. The courts have created a bizarre Catch-22 whereby someone is “too disabled” to do a job but “not disabled enough” to take advantage of the ADA – leaving people without a remedy.
S. 3406 differs from the bill the House passed in June 406-17, but it still helps solve the problems caused by court decisions.
This bill has come out of a successful effort to reach a compromise among disabilities, business, veterans, civil rights and religious groups. United Spinal Association and 22 additional veterans and military groups have supported this bill in the House. With more than 60 Senators supporting it, the Senate will almost surely pass it some time this fall after Congress returns from the district work period.
To see how your Representative voted on the companion bill in the House, go to http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll460.xml
To see if your Senator is a co-sponsor, here is a list of Senators who have already co-sponsored S. 3406
Sponsor: Sen. Harkin, Tom [IA] (introduced 7/31/2008) Cosponsors (64)
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COSPONSORS(64), ALPHABETICAL
Sen Alexander, Lamar [TN] – 7/31/2008
Sen Allard, Wayne [CO] – 7/31/2008
Sen Barrasso, John [WY] – 7/31/2008
Sen Bennett, Robert F. [UT] – 7/31/2008
Sen Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [DE] – 7/31/2008
Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA] – 8/1/2008
Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] – 7/31/2008
Sen Brownback, Sam [KS] – 7/31/2008
Sen Burr, Richard [NC] – 7/31/2008
Sen Cardin, Benjamin L. [MD] – 7/31/2008
Sen Casey, Robert P., Jr. [PA] – 7/31/2008
Sen Chambliss, Saxby [GA] – 7/31/2008
Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] – 7/31/2008
Sen Cochran, Thad [MS] – 7/31/2008
Sen Coleman, Norm [MN] – 7/31/2008
Sen Collins, Susan M. [ME] – 7/31/2008
Sen Craig, Larry E. [ID] – 7/31/2008
Sen Crapo, Mike [ID] – 7/31/2008
Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT] – 7/31/2008
Sen Dole, Elizabeth [NC] – 8/1/2008
Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] – 7/31/2008
Sen Enzi, Michael B. [WY] – 7/31/2008
Sen Feingold, Russell D. [WI] – 7/31/2008
Sen Feinstein, Dianne [CA] – 8/1/2008
Sen Gregg, Judd [NH] – 7/31/2008
Sen Hatch, Orrin G. [UT] – 7/31/2008
Sen Isakson, Johnny [GA] – 7/31/2008
Sen Johnson, Tim [SD] – 7/31/2008
Sen Kennedy, Edward M. [MA] – 7/31/2008
Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] – 7/31/2008
Sen Klobuchar, Amy [MN] – 8/1/2008
Sen Kohl, Herb [WI] – 8/1/2008
Sen Landrieu, Mary L. [LA] – 7/31/2008
Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. [NJ] – 7/31/2008
Sen Leahy, Patrick J. [VT] – 7/31/2008
Sen Levin, Carl [MI] – 7/31/2008
Sen Lincoln, Blanche L. [AR] – 8/1/2008
Sen Lugar, Richard G. [IN] – 7/31/2008
Sen Martinez, Mel [FL] – 7/31/2008
Sen McCain, John [AZ] – 7/31/2008
Sen McCaskill, Claire [MO] – 7/31/2008
Sen Menendez, Robert [NJ] – 8/1/2008
Sen Mikulski, Barbara A. [MD] – 7/31/2008
Sen Murkowski, Lisa [AK] – 7/31/2008
Sen Murray, Patty [WA] – 7/31/2008
Sen Nelson, Bill [FL] – 7/31/2008
Sen Obama, Barack [IL] – 7/31/2008
Sen Reed, Jack [RI] – 7/31/2008
Sen Reid, Harry [NV] – 7/31/2008
Sen Roberts, Pat [KS] – 7/31/2008
Sen Salazar, Ken [CO] – 7/31/2008
Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] – 7/31/2008
Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] – 7/31/2008
Sen Smith, Gordon H. [OR] – 7/31/2008
Sen Snowe, Olympia J. [ME] – 7/31/2008
Sen Specter, Arlen [PA] – 7/31/2008
Sen Stabenow, Debbie [MI] – 8/1/2008
Sen Stevens, Ted [AK] – 7/31/2008
Sen Sununu, John E. [NH] – 7/31/2008
Sen Tester, Jon [MT] – 7/31/2008
Sen Thune, John [SD] – 7/31/2008
Sen Voinovich, George V. [OH] – 7/31/2008
Sen Warner, John [VA] – 7/31/2008
Sen Wyden, Ron [OR] – 8/1/2008
